Tryptophan is my friend.
So everyone knows about the turkey, the stuffing, the football. But here are some less common Thanksgiving traditions I celebrate every year:
#1: The Tradition of Getting Free Stuff at Balloon Night.
The Balloon Night tradition itself used to encompass many others: the Tradition of Banana Hot Chocolates, of Watching People Kick Things, of Going the Wrong Way Through the Crowd (slash Hopping Museum Fences to Go Faster), and the actual Tradition of Seeing the Inflated Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons. Now, we've whittled the whole thing down into the two most important elements: the Tradition of Eating and the Tradition of Going to Bars (well, Bar). This is spinning off so that it includes its own annual rituals, including the Tradition of Getting Free Stuff. Last year, it was tequila shots at San Marcos. This year, the fine owners of Baluchi's Full-Price declared that beer and wine were on the house. Hell. Yes. I guess not that many people go out for Indian food on Thanksgiving.
#2: The Tradition of Secret Santa Negotiations
First round: being moral and not telling who the Secret Santa is vs. blabbing it to get gift ideas. Second round: Will you switch with me?
#3: The Tradition of Riling Up Babies
There are various methods in which to do this. The first is through song. Though Thanksgiving-themed songs work, my favorite was demanding a performance of my two-year-old cousin's dance recital number, which included both song and dance instructions ("You've got the cutest little baby face, and push and push"). The second is through the hot-or-cold, hide-the-orange game. Babies do not get tired of this. The tiniest babies cheat. But you'll really rile them up if you can later turn the orange into a cookie using magic. Believe me, they'll want to see that one again and again.
#4 The Tradition of Thinking It's 11:00 When It's Really 6:00
May or may not be related to Tradition #1.
#5 The Tradition of Panicking about Christmas Shopping
Oh. Shit.
#1: The Tradition of Getting Free Stuff at Balloon Night.
The Balloon Night tradition itself used to encompass many others: the Tradition of Banana Hot Chocolates, of Watching People Kick Things, of Going the Wrong Way Through the Crowd (slash Hopping Museum Fences to Go Faster), and the actual Tradition of Seeing the Inflated Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons. Now, we've whittled the whole thing down into the two most important elements: the Tradition of Eating and the Tradition of Going to Bars (well, Bar). This is spinning off so that it includes its own annual rituals, including the Tradition of Getting Free Stuff. Last year, it was tequila shots at San Marcos. This year, the fine owners of Baluchi's Full-Price declared that beer and wine were on the house. Hell. Yes. I guess not that many people go out for Indian food on Thanksgiving.
#2: The Tradition of Secret Santa Negotiations
First round: being moral and not telling who the Secret Santa is vs. blabbing it to get gift ideas. Second round: Will you switch with me?
#3: The Tradition of Riling Up Babies
There are various methods in which to do this. The first is through song. Though Thanksgiving-themed songs work, my favorite was demanding a performance of my two-year-old cousin's dance recital number, which included both song and dance instructions ("You've got the cutest little baby face, and push and push"). The second is through the hot-or-cold, hide-the-orange game. Babies do not get tired of this. The tiniest babies cheat. But you'll really rile them up if you can later turn the orange into a cookie using magic. Believe me, they'll want to see that one again and again.
#4 The Tradition of Thinking It's 11:00 When It's Really 6:00
May or may not be related to Tradition #1.
#5 The Tradition of Panicking about Christmas Shopping
Oh. Shit.